Should women be allowed to go topless in public?

[stan1980]

After doing a bit of research on google, I'm not entirely sure what the laws are from country to country with regards to going topless, but in the UK it seems nudity is illegal if it is of a sexual nature in public.

There was a story in the UK where a couple of Swedish girls went topless at a council run public swimming pool. They were asked to put their tops on or leave. Unfortunately I can't link the story as I'll get into trouble, but their argument was that women should be allowed to go topless where it is acceptable for men to be topless. By not allowing it, it is sexual discrimination.

Some may argue that the reason men are allowed to go topless and women aren't is because men don't have breasts. Well I can tell you, my mate who we affectionately call "big boy" Barry has larger breasts than some women, yet he is still allowed to bathe topless in public.

Another point I'd like to make is it seems to be the women's nipple that causes most offence. On TV you can pretty much show the whole woman's breast as long as they have the nipple covered at any point in the day, but to broadcast the nipple it has to go out after the watershed (9pm). In public too, it seems that a woman can wear the most revealing bikini, as long as the nipple isn't showing. What makes the women's nipple more offensive than the man's?

 

[cantata]

The law is completely ridiculous.

Biologically speaking, what are breasts and female nipples for? They're for feeding infants - a noble (and patently non-sexual) activity if ever there was one. Now firstly, to demand the covering up of breasts is to obscenely sexualise the act of breastfeeding. It's a sad fact that although it's legal for a woman to breastfeed in public, many people frown upon it, mutter things about getting a room, don't know where to look, &c. This is ridiculous. Breastfeeding is a normal, natural, and very beneficial activity for a mother and infant. We should be encouraging it, not demonising it. We have a law which, in practice, essentially says that a woman may not expose her breasts in public for any reason other than in order to breastfeed. But then what happens is that an association is born between the exposing of breasts, and illegality, obscenity, and sex. And I find that deeply offensive.

Breasts are not primarily sexual organs. The only reason that we are told to cover them up is that men apparently think of them that way. And indeed, if any woman here has endured the misguided fumblings of a teenage boy, they are likely to agree that many are indeed under the impression that women have just two areas of interest on their bodies: their breasts, and their vagina. Now it seems to me that the enforced covering up of breasts serves to perpetuate this myth. The fact is that lots of bits of women are extremely interesting. And perhaps more of them would be appreciated if breasts weren't turned into forbidden fruit by covering them up all the time.

I do think it's unfair that women's breasts are deemed so offensive, and deeply surreal that nipples are considered to be the particularly terrifying part. Heaven forbid a child should see a nipple! Never mind that it spent a considerable proportion of its first few months of life enthusiastically attached to one. The mere sight of that tiny portion of flesh may scar it for life.

 

[Eudaimonist]

After doing a bit of research on google, I'm not entirely sure what the laws are from country to country with regards to going topless, but in the UK it seems nudity is illegal if it is of a sexual nature in public.

I'm proud to say that it's also that way in my home state of New York State.

There was a story in the UK where a couple of Swedish girls went topless at a council run public swimming pool.

I've seen that in Sweden. I guess they didn't realize that they weren't permitted to do that in the UK.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

Breasts are not primarily sexual organs. The only reason that we are told to cover them up is that men apparently think of them that way. And indeed, if any woman here has endured the misguided fumblings of a teenage boy, they are likely to agree that many are indeed under the impression that women have just two areas of interest on their bodies: their breasts, and their vagina. Now it seems to me that the enforced covering up of breasts serves to perpetuate this myth. The fact is that lots of bits of women are extremely interesting. And perhaps more of them would be appreciated if breasts weren't turned into forbidden fruit by covering them up all the time.

Hmmm, that's an interesting argument. But I suspect that the result would actually be that the vulva/vagina would end up being the only "area of interest".

Perhaps it wouldn't if full nudity were legal and culturally acceptable and practiced?

I do think it's unfair that women's breasts are deemed so offensive

But is it really that nipples are offensive? I'm not so certain.

I'm more inclined to think that people see the sight of certain body parts as a kind of undesired sexual involvement with the nude or semi-nude person, for themselves or others. For people whom sexuality and nudity are inextricably mixed, the way to keep one's sexual distance is to be covered up by a suitable amount of clothing.

Consider how women are irritated when their boyfriends/husbands look at other women, e.g. passing them by on the street. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the cultural forces preventing the exposure of bare breasts is women who don't like to see straying eyes.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[quatona]

What makes the women's nipple more offensive than the man's?

Be careful what you say. In the end they might have us wear bikini tops as well.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Be careful what you say. In the end they might have us wear bikini tops as well.

Nah, I think they ultimately want men and women to go swimming in full burkhas, and pretend to be big, black jellyfish.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[GrannieAnnie]

I tell you what............no one in their right mind would want to see my bits flopping down around my knees, so I'll keep covered...

 

[stan1980]

Consider how women are irritated when their boyfriends/husbands look at other women, e.g. passing them by on the street. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the cultural forces preventing the exposure of bare breasts is women who don't like to see straying eyes.

That's a good point. It's probably not just some women who get irritated by wondering eyes, I imagine many men wouldn't like the thought of their girlfriend/wife being ogled by other men too.

 

[craigerNY]

Here in New York they can go topless in state parks if they wish.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

Here in New York they can go topless in state parks if they wish.

You mean just walk around normally, or do they do it for sun baking....

 

[gengwall]

Considering the broad sense of the poll question, I answered "no". In reality, I think there are proper times and places where toplessness is acceptable. I wouldn't go to there. But that is just me.

 

[IzzyPop]

I think it should be required that women go around topless. As Ron White said, "One you've seen one pair, you want to see them all."

 

[craigerNY]

You mean just walk around normally, or do they do it for sun baking....

Whatever activities they may be engaging in they may be topless in a state park. It is a legal ruling from a lawsuit.

 

[keith99]

I think it should be required that women go around topless. As Ron White said, "One you've seen one pair, you want to see them all."

You are one sick puppie.

If I were to go the sexist route for this thread I'd propose anyone can go topless as long as they can pass the pencil test. (Lift up breast, out pencil under it, let go. If the pencil fall no bra needed).

Same rules for men and women. So this actually passes the sexual discrimination bit.

 

[Washington]

Q. Should women be allowed to go topless in public?

A. Only where men are allowed to go topless in public.

 

[TeaRose]

I don't understand the prudish sexualization of the female breasts. Breasts are not sex organs. While, in a sexual setting, the breasts and nipples can be an erogenous zone, that characteristic is not limited to our breasts. Men's breasts/nipples can be as equally erotic to them as ours are to us. So, the sexuality of breasts/nipples is not limited to just women's breasts. But, on a hot summer day, walking around without a shirt is not a sexual setting. I think that women should be permitted to be shirtless anywhere it is allowed for a man to be shirtless

 

[quatona]

But, on a hot summer day, walking around without a shirt is not a sexual setting.

Apparently, some people see every situation as a sexual setting.

 

[fuzzymel]

Apparently, some people see every situation as a sexual setting.

Then those people have problems. They should get help for their problems. Its not the womans fault.

 

[quatona]

Then those people have problems. They should get help for their problems. Its not the womans fault.

Sure.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Of course women should be allowed to walk around topless if they so wish. As you said, big boy barrie (or whatever) is allowed to do so although he may have bigger breasts than a lot of women. I think its silly to let men go around topless yet women are not. Not that I personally want to walk around with my woman bits exposed, but equality is equality.